Vampires and Vixens (Psy-Vamp) by Cassandra Lawson Read Free Book Online

look so
much like your cousins.”
    Noah seemed completely nonplussed by her
observation, and continued to arrange the last of his papers. “We both look
like our fathers, and they aren’t my cousins.”
    Her mother wouldn’t have approved of
this impolite probing, but she was curious and Noah didn’t seem to mind. “Did
you grow up with your father?”
    He shook his head. “My father died when
I was very young. Roman, Nathaniel’s father, took me in. I know it sounds
strange, but we grew up in the same home, but different worlds.”
    “You probably think that I'm the nosiest
person that you've ever met. Trust me; I’m not normally this intrusive.”
    Noah met her gaze. “It's only natural to
wonder about people you've just met. Listen, I’m starving, I skipped breakfast
this morning, and I was just on my way to get some lunch.”
    Hannah leaned her head into her hand,
embarrassed by her own manners. “Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry. I didn't intend to
keep you here all day with my questions.” She slipped her book bag over her
shoulder and began to rise.
    Noah stood quickly. “That's not what I
was trying to say at all. I was actually going to ask if you wanted to join me
for lunch. If I don't get some food soon, I'm going to drop.”
    Hannah felt a wave of relief wash over
her. “Now that you mention it, I was just thinking about getting something to
eat when I saw you.”
    “Where were you planning on eating?”
    Hannah shrugged. “I'm not really
familiar with this area. The only thing I’m sure of is that I don't ever want
to eat in the cafeteria again. Just thinking about it makes my arteries
harden.”
    Noah’s lips curled into an inviting
smile. “Well, you're in luck. I know a superb restaurant close by.”
    “Not just good, superb?”
    He raised his hand as though he were
taking an oath. “I kid you not. You are in for an exceptional dining
experience. They serve the finest veggie burger this side of the Mississippi.”
    “With advertising like that, how could a
girl possibly resist? You’re a vegetarian?”
    He nodded. “So, do you want to join me,
or do you want to stay here and starve?”
    “Promise me food, and I’ll follow you
anywhere.”
    “We can take my truck. I have a reserved
spot so I don’t have to worry about finding parking again. Even this late in
the day the student lot is pretty full.” He gestured toward the faculty parking
lot.
    “How about if I carry some of those
papers so we don’t have to stop every few feet to pick them up again?” she
offered.
    “Fine with me. I know some would say the
gentlemanly thing to do is carry them myself, but I’ve never been accused of
being a gentleman.”
    She took half of the papers.
    Noah’s truck was a silver Toyota Tacoma
with a double cab. He tossed the briefcase and papers in the back of the cab.
    “Can I ask you something of a sensitive
nature?” Hannah asked cautiously as Noah drove them to the restaurant.
    They were at a stoplight, so he turned
to smile at her. “You seem to do that quite often, but I think I prefer it to
being attacked with fruit, so go ahead.”
    “What happened to your parents?”
    “My mother and father were killed in a
fire.”
    “That must have been really terrible for
you to lose both of your parents at the same time.” Hannah spoke quietly; her
heart ached for him, and for Nathaniel.
    “Like I said, I was lucky that
Nathaniel's father took me in. It was weird living with him. For the most part
a nanny raised me. Nathaniel’s father has never been cruel or neglectful. He’s
just,” he paused to find a word to describe the man who had taken him in. “reserved.
I’m not sure that’s the best word, but it’s hard to describe him.”
    Hannah looked down at her hands, and
thought about his words. “I think I understand. My father isn’t a bad person,
and he’s never really been cruel to me. He’s just very detached.”
    At the restaurant, Noah waved to the
waitress in a familiar way. He